Custodial Institutions Agency

If a Dutch court issues a sentence or custodial measure, the Ministry of Justice and Security is responsible for the enforcement of that sentence or measure. This duty has been delegated to the Custodial Institutions Agency (Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen, hereinafter DJI). DJI’s most important task is realising the detention of convicted individuals in order to ensure that justice is served in order to ensure a safer society. In addition, DJI is responsible for the day-to-day care of the detainees and their rehabilitation.

Institutions

With 50 locations across the country and about 13,000 employees, DJI is one of the biggest employers in the Netherlands. Every year, approximately 37,000 new detainees are admitted. DJI has different types of institutions for variouscategories of inmates and patients. There are remand centres and prisons for adults. Furthermore, there are correctional institutions for juvenile offenders and forensic psychiatric centres for convicted adults who require psychiatric care. Detention centres are used for foreign nationals living illegally in the Netherlands, individuals who have been refused entry at the border and drugs couriers.

Our mission

DJI contributes to a safer society by implementing custodial measures and prison sentences and by giving the people in its care the opportunity to build up a socially acceptable life.